African counter-terrorism ‘is creating extremists’

The UN says a heavy-handed approach by governments is a primary factor pushing people into violent groups

A Somali soldier responding to an Al Shabaab suicide attack in Mogadishu
A Somali soldier responding to an Al Shabaab suicide attack in Mogadishu
(Image credit: Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP/Getty Images)

Counter-extremism measures deployed by African governments to tackle insurgency actually push more people into violent groups, according to the UN.

The finding, from one of the largest studies of its kind, "is likely to prompt controversy", says The Guardian.

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